Dropcloth



July 5, 1960 J, L SUCKLE 2,943,380

DROPCLOTH Filed May 7, 1959 INVENTOR. Jf/PO/Vf L, SUC/(Lf /1 from/5x DROPCLOTH Jerome L. Suckle, General Garment C0., SW. Cor. Amber and Hagert Sts., Philadelphia 25, Pa.

Filed May 7, 1959, Ser. No. 811,626

4 Claims. (Cl. 28-80) This invention relates generally to dropcloths, and is especially concerned With such dropcloths as are .adapted to be used by painters to protect toors, furniture, etc. from paint in the painting procedure.

As is well-known to those versed in the art, painters dropcloths have conventionally consisted of merely a sheet of fabric, possibly having eyelets or other securing means. The function of such dropcloths was to receive and absorb spilled or splattered paint, and prevent the paint from passing through lthe dropcloth to furniture, floors, or the like beneath the dropcloth. However, with the newer alkydand latex-based paints, it was found that conventional dropcloths were not satisfactory, in that the paint penetrated completely through such dropcloths, often causing serious damage.

Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a highly improved painters dropcloth which is well-adapted for use with all types of paints, including alkydand latex-based paints, functioning to elfectively absorb the paint and prohibit its penetration through the dropcloth.

It is a more particular object of the presen-t invention to provide a dropcloth having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in the preceding paragraph whereina fabric or cloth is provided on one surface with a ilexible plastic coating impervious to the passage of liquid, and which can be used, washed, and reused indefinitely without adverse effects.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a plastic-coated fabric dropcloth wherein the plastic coating is intimately bonded and sealed to the fabric so as to be inseparable from the latter under even extreme conditions of use, and wherein the fabric retains its advantageous absorbency for soaking up paint.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a dropcloth construction of the type described which is strong and durable in use, being highly resistant to abrasive wear, and which can be economically manufactured for sale at a reasonable price.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings, which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will be exemplified in ,the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope will be indicated by the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating a dropcloth constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Figure 1.

The dropcloth is generally designated in Figure 1 and includes a fabric sheet or cloth 11 having its underside coated with plastic, and having its upper or exposed surface entirely free of the plastic coating. The peripheral margins 12 of the dropcloth 10 may be folded onto Parental `Jury 5,4` 1960 ripheral hem. The turned-over marginsor hem 12 are preferably secured by a multiple stitching, triple stitchy ing'being shown at `13, for` purposes of illustration; The fabric 11Y is advantageously woveuof nonglssy' or nonlustrous thread or yarn in a duck-type weave. That is, the fabric 11 is advantageously relatively coarse, and is preferably woven so as to have a thread count within the range between 48 x 44 and 72 x 48 threads per inch. Lighter-weight fabrics than heretofore employed in dropcloth manufacture have been found desirable.

As best seen in Figure 2, the underside or face of the fabric 11 is provided with a plastic coating 15 which entirely covers the fabric. More particularly, the plastic coating enters into and is imbedded in all of the interstices between the threads or yarns of fabric 11, as at 16, so as to close or cover all of the interstices and be intimately bound and sealed to the fabric. The plastic coating 15 is preferably of polyethylene, and high-density polyethylene Iis particularly preferred for its better resistance to abrasion and superior adhesion ih intimate binding engagement with the fabric threads. Although the plastic coating 15 is intimately engaged in the interstices of the fabric 11, it will be observed that the plastic is entirely on the underside of the fabric, no plastic Whatever being on the upper fabric surface. By this construction the fabric yarns are all exposed for absorbing paint received on the dropcloth. As the plastic is impervious to liquid, it is obvious that no paint will penetrate through the dropcloth. A plastic-coating thickness of between .002 and .003 inch has been found advantageous for use with cotton fabric of duck 'type between six and ten ounces in weight.

An important feature of the instant dropcloth resides in the hem construction, see Figure 2, wherein a marginal region 12 of the fabric 11 and its coating 15 is folded into facing engagement with the coated face or side of the fabric, and there secured by the stitching 13. It will be noted that the plastic portion of fthe marginal region 12 is folded into facing engagement with the adjacent plastic portion, and that the fabric or coating completely envelops and surrounds the facing fabric portions. By this construction, the peripheral hem of the dropcloth 10 effectively prevents the escape of liquid or paint from the upper dropcloth surface. That is, liquid received on the upper surface of the dropcloth proximate to the hermned margin 12 will be absorbed by the fabric, while the hem defines a raised wall or barrier -to prevent flow of liquid thereover.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the present invention provides a painters dropcloth which fully accomplishes its intended objects and is well-adapted to meet practical conditions of manufacture and use.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

'What is claimed is:

1. A dropcloth comprising an absorbent woven fabric and an impervious plastic coating entirely covering the under surface of the fabric, the upper surface of the fabric being entirely free of any coating, the peripheral margin of said coated fabric being folded under to place the marginal plastic region in facing engagement with the adjacent coated fabric face and defining an elevated boundary region of double thickness, means securing said marginal plastic region in said facing engagement, and the folded fabric region and its plastic coating delining a barrier to the '.ow of liquid from said fabric.

References Citedin the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hesse July 7, 1925 Perrin Oct. 29, 1940 Railing Dec. 22, 1953 Nw. r D n 

